Finale in NY

I’m glad someone asked about the celebrities on our billboards. Rest assured, they haven’t replaced the players as our primary “faces.” Not by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, we probably have a wider array of players on our billboards this year than in any year that I can remember. There’s a mix of players, celebrities, other athletes, etc. that is intended to show how wide our fan base is…hopefully you guys will see them as you drive around LA (those of you who live there).

I have seen many of the player’s billboads and the only celebrity I have seen is Oscar de La Holla. I’ve been wanting to catch the one of James Loney in the back of a bus but I have not ben able to yet. I want to take a picture of it.
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Joe Pierre will be the good luck charm for “El Lobito” to get his win. No pressure Joe!
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Emmahttp://crzblue.mlblogs.com/

My post from the last thread, I posted it after this thead
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Hello ITD blogmates!
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Mike,
I could not vote for an Angel either. I looked at the AL final list and decided on the one that could do the NL least harm. I voted a lot yesterday but this morning I could not log on from work.
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I take consolation that Andruw’s homeruns came against the Angels.
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Kemp should still make the ASG since Beltran is injured.
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We got to take the game today. Our lucky charm Joe Pierre will be in attendance!
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Emmahttp://crzblue.mlblogs.com/

one of the things i tweeted to MLB during the final hours of the final vote was that all the victorino/reynolds/sandoval voters should keep in mind that Matty Kemp’s numbers are really good considering he has to bat 8th every night!

a giants fan/pablo sandoval supporter wrote back to me and said “Sandoval puts up numbers in a CRAPPY lineup. Kemp bats 8th? i doubt it, he’s a good player.”

i wrote him back and assured him that kemp bats 8th nearly every game.. and that his numbers are quite impressive knowing that he’s got the pitcher behind him.. and also despite batting 8th.. he managed to go 3-3 with a walk, a triple, and 2 runs scored yesterday.. imagine his numbers higher in the order =P

I wouldn’t sweat the announcer love parade on Juan. If nothing else, perhaps they’re talking him up for a trade. I wouldn’t like that, I think Juan is an important player to have on the team (if he can accept his current role on the team). And I shudder to think what would happen if he’s not there when we need him.

Andruw Jones? Who is he? I’ve already forgotten tubby and his Baby Huey antics. I only wish he had spent last year with the Braves instead of us, we’d see how much he would’ve loved Atlanta then. I don’t know why he chose to defecate on our team exclusively, but for that, he’s not worth the brain cells it would require for me to remember him.

As for reason to worry with the team leading the league, well, I hadn’t been a big believer in worrying about if the wheels will fall off. And to share insight, I decided to see how the winningest team in the league in the playoffs has fared since the strike year:

So, what do we have? Out of 15 years of the current playoff format, only twice have the team with the Major League’s best record won the World Series. Aside from that, only 3 times have the leader in the other league won the World Series.

Conclusion: In this playoff format, winning in the regular season guarantees nothing but a ticket to October, by which time most ML leaders have played themselves ragged, and unable to beat teams on the upswing in September.

Josh, why not put real fans on the billboards instead of people who are probably paid some sort of appearance fee to be at games. Real fans would make the billboards seem more genuine but no one has ever accused L.A. of being real or genuine. Obviously there aren’t enough billboards with players on them considering the fact that Matt Kemp finished 4th in the Final Vote.

nsb, great post. While there seems to be great comfort in a big lead, those big leads can disappear in a flash of too many runners left on base and a pitching meltdown. This season has a long way to go but it does seem as if every game is a big game.

I did not read last night’s posts but I assume your comment about the announcers came from those posts. I don’t think the Dodger broadcasters have an agenda in their praise for Pierre. Dodger broadcasters traditionally have never been “homers” but they usually don’t dwell too much on the negatives.

I knew these Giants fan are just stupid and did they really think Pablo was going to win it? I’d rather see Werth there over Victorino and even better Kemp should be going and this is not even a damn debate.

LETS GO DODGERS, LETS GO!!!!!!
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4-0 in the first……Come on Wolf!!!!!
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I hope he has good movement and control with the breaking ball tonight.
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I CAN SEE US SCORING MORE RUNS TONIGHT ALSO🙂
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GO DODGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BRING THE RING TO L.A. IN 2009!!!!!!

It’s too bad that Matt didn’t win the spot on the All-Star team, but realistically, what fan other than a Dodger fan is going to vote for an 8th place hitter? If Kemp’s own manager doesn’t consider him good enough to bat higher in the Dodger lineup, why would fans for other team vote for him?

Hiya Everybody
Just got back from the game, which was another dream come through.
There’s nothing better than the Dodgers playing fantastically well in my home town.
I’m sure that more people are aware of them right now because all I hear around here, is how good a team they have.
Tuesday night some guys were comparing them to the ’96 Yankees.
But of course we all know they haven’t won anything yet.

Every morming Joe Torre wakes up and shakes his specially made Dodger Blue Magic 8 Ball
and every morning it say’s bat Matty 8th, except for the mornings it said bat Blake 8th…….Magic 8 Ball your a Genius.

I am glad that the Dodgers won but I can’t get too excited since I am so angry right now. I was busted for talking on my cell phone. Normally, I have my Bluetooth GPS mounted while driving so I can receive calls. This one time, my GPS was in my pocket, I took the call and did not think to just put it on speaker and set it in the cup holder. Now I am freaking out because I am reading that despite the law setting the first time offense at $20, a search of the web indicates that most people have to pay $132 or more for that infraction. Like Manny, I am now going to have to pay for my transgression. For a fine to hurt Manny as much as $132 hurts me, it would have to be $755,000!

Preliminary on Hudson looks good, but with our trainer….???
“Oh, it hurt,” Hudson said of the drilling he took.

But other than adding he would do his daily icing regimen to combat the swelling, Hudson didn’t appear to be too concerned with the injury………
Manager Joe Torre …….echoed that sentiment, saying he’s typically informed by the training staff when an injury could be serious.

“Usually if something’s not going to be OK, I get that news,” Torre said. “And I didn’t get that news.”

It’s okay Eric. It was my own fault for not pressing speaker and setting it down. Expensive lesson to learn. Someone said the Ventura County fee is $89 in addition to the $20 fine so it may only be $109 instead of $132. But with the way the state has raised the auto registration fees, I would not be surprised if they raised the fines for all violations across the board.
I will just have to remember the words of Ogden Nash who once said: “If called by a panther, don’t anther!”🙂

GOOOOOOOOD MORNING ITD’RS….
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It is FRIDAY and we are still NUMBER ONE!
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Our BOYS IN BLUE played a great game yesterday. Everyone was hitting and runs were coming in. WOLF was great and I give him props…GOOD JOB!
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Today we player the Brewers and it will be a great game. GOOD LUCK to our BOYS and hope BILLI can strike them out.
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GOOOOOOO DODGERS!

Good morning ITD blogmates!
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Brian: So sorry about you getting that ticket😦. Maybe if you show up to court they will cut the fee in half like Alex (Dodger fan friend we saw at Phillippes) told us they did for him.
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Anyone here read in the L.A.Times Sport section the article by Erskine? He writes the “Man of the House” column in Saturday’s Home section. I am going to send him an email to respond to a few things he says and there and also to invite him to spend time with my friends and I at a ballgame. here is the article:http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-erskine-angels10-2009jul10,0,4771559.column
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I can’t wait to see my boys return to Dodger Stadium! they desrve a nice long standing ovation when they come back.
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Emmahttp://crzblue.mlblogs.com/

Good morning to everyone on the west coast. It was a good series against the Mets and a great season series taking 5 out of six. It gives me bragging rights here in NY with my Met fan friends and co-workers. I looking forward to after the all-star break when the pennant race heats up and we can wrap this thing up.

Are you kidding me? It doesnt matter if you bat 8th. The Dodgers have the best record in baseball. And Matt Kemp is hitting .320 and Werth is hitting .268. Kemp was the obvious choice. He is better than 4 of the 7 all star outfielders. Upton, Werth, Victorino and Pence. What a shame

Andy ~ I agree with you about wanting his own player. All All-Star managers do it every year and it’s a damn shame. That’s why I could care less about the game. It’s a waste my precious time to watch the Phillies play in the All-Star Game.
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I also believe it is the East Coast bias thing rearing its ugly head once again.

batting order doesnt mean anything. He’s hitting 50 points higher than werth. 50 points is alot. Maybe if werth was hitting at least .290 then i would be ok with it. But he’s under .270. How does everyone not agree that Kemp is better than Werth. Its not his fault he’s batting 8th, but it doesnt matter anyways.

Andy, all that bear and I were doing was slamming the idiot Torre for continuing to waste Kemp’s bat so damned low in the lineup. I agree with you that it’s amazing that he’s hitting so well with the pitcher behind him. Kemp deserves to be there, certainly more than Jason. I like Werth, but his HR stats are inflated due to that minorleague park he plays in.

This is just wrong, and it’s why I think the votes don’t really count for much other than a popularity contest. If this were a matter of real numbers and real baseball, Wright doesn’t deserve to be there either (this year). The only position where the numbers really mattered is in pitching, and that’s because it wasn’t up to the popularity vote.

Joe Torre is the only manager in baseball that would bat Kemp 8th, and it cost Kemp an All-Star appearance. It has also cost the Dodgers some wins, but with the best record in baseball few people care and Torre can continue to show he’s the boss and can do what he wants. It’s sad, but all too true.

Kuo’s and Belisario’s elbows have both been cut on, Tommy John style. And I believe each more than once. Bad elbows out of the bullpen + Joe Torre = Very long stints on Disabled List. Do you think Uncle Joe could possibly leave Ethier in the two-hole for a second straight game? I know it’s a lot to ask….

Hi Everyone. I wouldn’t mind Kemp having the honor, and he’s much more deserving, but I guess the All-Star game is pretty useless. I still watch all 9 innings, but I guess these days, with how badly Bud’s screwed it up, watching the All-Star game these days is like visiting your best friend in a coma… draw your own conclusions there.

I’ll pass a virtual collection plate around to be donated to the charity of Charlie Manuel’s choosing if he wears the jersey Shad posted a few comments back. Making that homer decision to pick his guy over many more qualified players, I think the Name On Back is descriptive of the photo Emma says Werth has of him.

when i saw that werth had been named an all-star over matt kemp, i was irate.. and when i came on the board to write about it.. i saw all the stats you guys put up in matt’s favor further reinforcing the point.. and now i’m LIVID.. this whole thing is a joke.. i can’t believe that matt is so deserving and yet he was slighted.. i get that the final vote is the fans and a popularity contest.. so it’s not going to be the most deserving players.. hence ian kinsler being left out.. but the coaches are supposed to be making baseball decisions.. what a bunch of BS

i know trublu.. it’s honestly absolutely ridiculous.. who the heck cares that werth has 20 homers while playing half the games in one of the most hitter friendly parks?? i’m more impressed by matt’s triples.. triples = power and speed

Well, it looks like I have to eat a little crow. I was ignorant on how the All-Star rosters were filled out. We all know about the starting 8 being elected by the fans, of course. But I didn’t know this:

“In addition to the starters who were elected by the fans, pitchers and reserve players were named to the All-Star Game rosters by the Player Ballot – a vote of the players, managers and coaches – and by the All-Star Game managers in conjunction with Major League Baseball.”

That sets the team, with the exception of the “Final Vote” process. aeversw, I saw that too – the Phils had their front office people voting on-line for Victorino while working. I wonder if we did that?

Then comes the process for replacing injured players.

“According to MLB, any injured starter will be replaced by the top vote-getter on the player ballot who’s not a starter.”

“Mets manager Jerry Manuel never seemed to warm up to him, and seemed particularly peeved after Church missed third base while running home earlier this season in a game New York eventually lost.”
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Methinks I remember that game. 🙂

Good points, all, on Kemp vs. Werth. No doubt there was politics involved in this decision. It’s fun to watch but I try not to take the All Star game too seriously. Let’s face it, it’s an exhibition game, for the most part, by and for the fans. Good players, fairly and unfairly, get left out. You can’t pick everybody that’s deserving. The most ridiculous aspect of it is that it decides home field for the WS. That is way too important to be decided by a mere exhibition game….FREE MATT KEMP FROM THE EIGHT HOLE!!!!!!

i wrote a letter to Chris Erskine of the L.A. Times and he sent me a nice funny (as in haha) email. I told him that the reason I did not go to Angel Stadium this year was because from the ticket office to the ushers, to security they were rude, homers and …selective in their treatment. We saw them being nice to their fans. Not sure if It was because we were decked out in Dodger blue or because we are Hispanics but I did not want to go this year. Besides, I can’t get the pictures off my mind of the rat infestation.
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part of Chri’s response:
“”One of the things I’m going to do in the future is put on rival team gear and see how I’m treated – first in LA, then down in Anaheim. I think that would be interesting. Wish me luck. If you never see me in the paper again, you’ll know why.””
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Hahal I wrote back “come sit with us and we’ll protect you!.”
Emmahttp://crzblue.mlblogs.com/

Hi ITD,
Frustrating.! Notice that torre leaves Bils in, when he is over 90 pitches, walks two and lets it the situation just become out of hand for any relief pitcher. Good job Mota.
And to not score with a lead off Double, just freaking lame.

But the brewers manager changes the pitchers and gets the outs needed, especially vs furcal and Dre. Geez come on Manny light it up! With the gnats playing the madres out vantage will shrink if we don’t get going NOW!

I find it odd to use broxton with this lead. I know he had a melt down before, but I would want him fresh for a must have save situation, hope this doesn’t burn us tomorrow.
Good Game eventually! another nail biter really.

I think Broxton needs to come in when there is a save situation in the 9th inning only, perhaps an out in the 8th. But anything else and he is shaky, I do not want Ned to have to find a new closer. WOW the win and we need it!

lol at the no hitter by Sanchez after Lincecum almost got one. I knew the Padres was going to be tough against us and not do anything against them the first 2 night. I can understand Lincecum but not Sanchez.

Matt Kemp All-Star. How about Matt Kemp MVP. Love that Willie Mays style catch! I don’t know what’s up with Broxton. In the last two games, 5 hits, 5 runs, 4 walks. The good news is the Dodgers won both games. That’s a very good sign.

Matt Kemp All-Star. How about Matt Kemp MVP. Love that Willie Mays style catch! I don’t know what’s up with Broxton. In the last two games, 5 hits, 5 runs, 4 walks. The good news is the Dodgers won both games. That’s a very good sign.

I think this is one of the few times that the Dodgers and Giants actually agree on something. Pablo Sandavol has been killing the ball, much like Matt Kemp has been, and they think they got screwed in the all-star voting as well. The difference is Sandoval plays 1st and 3rd and those positions are well taken care of, where we had a chance with outfielders needing to be replaced.

I really think Wright could miss one all star games in his career and is not like he’s going to get no chance of making some more when he retired. I think this is the first time Arod is going to miss the all stars game and only because he missed a lot of game

Who would have thought Jonathan Sanchez with a no-hitter? The gnats # 5 pitcher, who went to the bullpen because he wasn’t getting it done, and now came back because Randy is on the DL. I hate to admit it, but they have one hell of a pitching staff, and we need to be very aware of it because unless one goes down, they are going to be hard to beat for any team.

Good pitching is good pitching, and it should to be congratulated, gnats or not. Just think, the NL west is becoming one of the best in the business right now. We have the best record in baseball, the gnats have one hell of a pitching staff,and 3 out of the 5 teams are beating teams outside of our division,and even Arizona beat the Fish tonight. So, it can no longer be said that the NL West is a weak division.

I read some where….. that Raffy, had said that ” Manny has taken over the DJ dutie’s in the locker room.”
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Yeah they was dancin’ and singin’ and movin’ to the groovin
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Lay down that boogie and play that funky music till ya die
Till ya die….Oh Ya Ya!!!
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What a Game and What a Team!!!!
Keep on Keep’n on Boy’s!!!!
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God Bless and Good Night All
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GO DODGERS!!!!
BRING THE RING TO L.A. IN 2009!!!!!!

MODESTO, Calif. — High Desert’s Jamie McOwen had his hitting streak ended Friday night at 45 games, the eighth-longest run in minor league history.

McOwen went 0 for 3 with a walk in the Mavericks’ 2-0 loss at Modesto. Needing a hit to extend the streak, McOwen struck out in his final at-bat in the ninth inning.

Seven previous times during the streak, McOwen had extended it in his last at-bat. The 2007 sixth-round draft pick had a hit in every game in which he played for Seattle’s Class A California League affiliate since May 10.

It was the minors’ longest streak since Waco’s Roman Mejias hit in 55 straight games in 1954. Wichita’s Joe Wilhoit set the minor league mark with a 69-game streak in 1919.

“It’s something I’m having fun with,” McOwen told The Associated Press in a telephone interview before the game Friday night. “I’m not going to make it a burden or not talk about it. When it ends, it ends. But right now, it’s going good, so I’m having a great time with it.”

McOwen set the California League record a few weeks ago when he hit in his 36th straight game. The left-handed hitting outfielder hit .398 with three homers, five triples, six doubles and 34 RBIs during the streak.

He bunted into a forceout in the first, walked in the fourth and grounded into a double play in the sixth. With a runner on and no outs in the ninth, McOwen struck out swinging.

Urgh forgot that I wasn’t on the main board and you can type http on this blog. Look at Sandoval and Wright numbers and also check out Kemp and Victorino numbers and this is why we all know that Sandoval and Kemp should’ve gone and for fun thrown in Reynolds numbers over Wright also.

Good morning, ITD’ers!
It’s kind of scary that the Giants all of a sudden have the ptiching in the division – something that our Dodgers have been known for over the decades. They say that good pitching overcomes good hitting, especially in the playoffs.
Right now I wouldn’t want to match up Billz and Kershaw against Lincenum and Cain. Kershaw looks like he’s coming around, but can’t go much of a distance. Billz looks like he needs to find himself alltogether. And, we need somebody with better stuff than either Wolf or Kuroda to go into the playoffs.
I’m not recommending this, but would any of you consider giving up either Billz or Kershaw for Halladay? Something to at least think about.

Good points messagebear. But I wouldn’t do it. Bills and Kershaw are our future. As it stands now we have two really good starters (Bills and Kershaw) and two so-so (Wolf and Kuroda). If we gave up either Bills or Kershaw for Halladay I don’t think we would improve our starting pitching that much. The thing to do is to keep Bills and Kershaw and try to upgrade from there. But that means getting someone other then Halladay. Who that someone might be and how much he would help is the tough question.

Interesting. Apparently we went to scout Halliday Thursday and, the Blue Jays would probably want either, Kersh or Billz. Supposedly we balked at that idea. However, when you are dealing with Ned and Frank, anything is a possibilty.

The questions to consider –
Will Billz and/or Kersh be as good at their peak as Halladay?
I think possibly, but certainly no guarantee.
Would Halladay make the adjustment to National League without the same kind of problem that Zito experienced?
Who knows – stranger things have happened.
If you made the deal and had to give up either Billz or Kersh, who would you part with?
I’d give up Kersh, because Billz has progressed further along, has pitched more innings in the majors, and Kersh may yet be a bad arm waiting to happen because of age and possible overwork at his age.
Weighing against the deal in my mind is also the fact that Halladay I believe is only tied up for another full year – after that what have you got.
So, on the balance, like trublu4 I probably wouldn’t make the deal. If we have to subtract a good starter or prospect to land an even better starter, you’re really not adding that additional good starter, which is what we seem to need.

I agree with you, Truebluewill. I know Billz and Kersh are having a rough time as of late but, I still think they will become quality pitchers. Some, however feel we should do whatever it takes to get Halliday. They want the “ring” this year.

I like our team. Our hitting, since Manny came back (sorry Bear) has been lights out. We have done pretty well against the Giants pitching, which is probably the best in the bigs and, I think even though our pitching hasn’t been superb, is good enough to get things done. I think we could possibly get a less costly pitcher, if needed, to bolster our staff. This year we want to win and it shows. Whats more important is that we are never out of a game…..for the most part, somebody steps up and gets us a victory.

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